National Survey of Substance Abuse
Treatment Services
The National Survey of Substance Abuse
Treatment Services (N-SSATS), sponsored by
the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA), is
designed to collect information from all
treatment facilities in the United States, both
public and private, that provide addiction
treatment. N-SSATS data allows examination of
the composition of the U.S. addiction treatment
delivery system. CASA Columbia analyzed this
data to investigate variations in care by
providers, the patterns of accreditation and
licensing of facilities by various characteristics
and the availability of services to specialized
populations (e.g., adolescents, women, patients
with co-occurring disorders).
Drug Abuse Warning Network
The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)
public health surveillance system, conducted by
the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA), monitors
substance-related emergency department (ED)
visits from a national sample of general, non-
federal hospitals that operate 24-hour EDs, with
oversampling of hospitals in selected
metropolitan areas. In participating hospitals,
ED medical records are reviewed retrospectively
to identify visits related to recent substance use.
Illicit drugs, prescription and over-the-counter
pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements and non-
pharmaceutical inhalants are included in the
analysis. Alcohol, when present in combination
with another drug, is included as well. When
alcohol is the only substance implicated in a
visit, it is included only for patients younger
than age 21.
CASA Columbia analyzed DAWN data to
examine the number of ED visits involving
alcohol and other drugs (excluding nicotine).
Fatality Analysis Reporting System
The National Center for Statistics and Analysis
(NCSA) of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) conducts the Fatality
Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a
nationwide census providing yearly data
regarding fatal injuries from motor vehicle
traffic crashes. FARS contains data derived
from a census of fatal traffic crashes within the
50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto
Rico. The results of alcohol and other drug tests
are recorded, as well as police officers’
determination of alcohol and/or other drug
involvement. The FARS database contains
descriptions--in standardized formats--of each
fatal crash reported.CASA Columbia analyzed FARS data to
examine the role of alcohol and other drug use in
fatal motor vehicle crashes.Key Informants
CASA Columbia staff reached out to leading
experts in a broad range of fields relevant to the
study. Responses from key informants* were
solicited and received between July 2007 and
May 2012. Comments were received from 17 6
individuals (109 by phone, 6 4 via e-mail and
three in person). Informants were identified
through a literature review, past research,
referrals from CASA Columbia’s National
Advisory Commission which was convened for
this study, and through a snowball sample where
respondents recommended other qualified
interviewees. (See Appendix B for the interview
guide and list of participants.)Where informants were amenable, an interview
guide was used. The methodology and
interview protocol were approved by CASA
Columbia’s Institutional Review Board (IRB).* The term “key informant” is used in reference to the
list of individuals specifically contacted and asked to
answer questions identified in Appendix B or to
provide comments and suggestions on the scope of
the study, key issues to be addressed and suggestions
for recommendations. The full list of Key Informants
is included in Appendix B.